CXCVII. The Struggle between Faith and Unbelief.

1

JESUS,

Mark ix. 24.

ESUS, our Souls delightful Choice,
In Thee believing we rejoice;
Yet ftill our Joy is mix'd with Grief,
While Faith contends with Unbelief.

2 Thy Promifes our Hearts revive,
And keep our fainting Hopes alive;
But Guilt, and Fears, and Sorrows rife,
And hide the Promife from our Eyes.
3 O let not Sin and Satan boast,

While Saints lie mourning in the Dust ;
Nor fee that Faith to Ruin brought,
Which thy own gracious Hand hath wrought.
4 Do Thou the dying Spark inflame;
Reveal the Glories of thy Name;
And put all anxious Doubts to Flight,
As Shades difpers'd by op'ning Light.

CXCVIII. CHRIST's condescending Regard to little
Children. Mark x. 14.

I SEE Ifrael's gentle Shepherd stand
With all-engaging Charms;
Hark how he calls the tender Lambs,
And folds them in his Arms!

2 "Permit them to approach (he cries).
"Nor fcorn their humble Name;
"For 'twas to blefs fuch Souls as thefe,
"The Lord of Angels came."

3 We bring them, LORD, in thankful Hands,
And yield them up to Thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our Offspring be.

4 Ye little Flock, with Pleasure hear:
Ye Children, feek his Face;
And fly with Transport to receive
The Bleffings of his Grace.

5 If Orphans they are left behind,
Thy Guardian-Care we trust :

That Care thould heal our bleeding Hearts,
If weeping o'er their Duft.

CXCIX. Chriftian Watchfulness. Mark xiii. 37

1 AWAKE, my drowsy Soul, awake,
And view the threat'ning Scene:
Legions of Foes encamp around,
And Treach'ry lurks within.

2 'Tis not this mortal Life alone
These Enemies affail;

3

All thine eternal Hopes are loft,
If their Attempts prevail.

Now to the Work of GoD awake;
Behold thy Master near;
The various arduous Tafk purfue
With Vigour and with Fear.

4 The awful Regifter goes on,

Th' Account will furely come,
And op'ning Day, or clofing Night
May bear me to my Doom.

5 Tremendous Thought! How deep it ftrikes!
Yet like a Dream it flies,

Till God's own Voice the Slumbers chafe
From these deluded Eyes.

CC. The Nativity of CHRIST. Luke ii. 10-12.

1 HAIL, Progeny * divine!

Hail, Virgin's wond'rous Son!

Who, for that humble Shrine,
Didit quit th' Almighty's Throne :
The Infant Lord

Our Voices fing,

And be the King

Of Grace ador'd.

2 Ye Princes, disappear,

And boaft your Crowns no more ;
Lay down your Sceptres here,
And in the Duft adore:

Where Jefus dwells,

The Manger bare
In Luftre far

Your Pomp excels.

With Bethlem's Shepherds mild

The Angels bow their Head;

And round the facred Child

Their Guardian-Wings they spread;.
They knew, that where

Their Sov'reign lies.

In low Difguife,

Heav'n's Court is there,

4 Thither, my Soul, repair,
And earthly Homage pay
To thy Redeemer fair,
As on his natal * Day :
I kifs thy Feet;

And, LORD, would be
A Child like Thee,

Whom thus I greet.

* Birth-day.

CCI. The Angels Song at CHRIST's Birth. Luke ii. 13, 14.

HIGH let us fwell our tuneful Notes,
And join th' angelic Throng;

For Angels no fuch Love have known
T'awake a chearful Song.

z Good-Will to finful Men is fhewn,
And Peace on Earth is giv'n;
For lo, th' incarnate Saviour comes
With Meffages from Heav'n.

3 Justice and Grace with fweet Accord
His rifing Beams adorn ;

Let Heav'n and Earth in Confort join,
Now fuch a Child is born.

4 Glory to God in highest Strains
In highest Worlds be paid;
His Glory by our Lips proclaim'd,
And by our Lives difplay'd.

5 When shall we reach thofe blissful Realms,

Where Chrift exalted reigns,

And learn of the celeftial Choir

Their own inmortal Strains?

CCII. Simeon's Song and Declaration to the Virgin Mary. Luke ii. 30-35.

I

2

3

OUR Eyes Salvation fee,

Prepar'd by Grace divine:

How wide its Splendors are diffus'd!
How bright its Glories fhine!

Thro' diftant Heathen Lands

It darts a vivid * Ray,

And to the Realms, where Satan reign'd,

Imparts celestial Day.

The Ifrael of the LORD

In Chrift their Glory boaít,

And on the Honours of his Name

Their whole Salvation truft.

To an immortal Crown,

And Millions, that his Grace defpife,

Shall fink in Ruin down.

CCIII. CHRIST's Meffage. Luke iv. 18, 19.

HARK the glad Sound! the Saviour comes! The Saviour promis'd long!

Let